Page 52 of Trucker
It was exhausting pretending not to be impacted as the entire town threw stones at me.
It was exhausted being a bad bitch.
MAYSON “TRUCKER” CALHOUNE
I gavethe cadets the day to kind of practice on their own. It was my way of giving them an easier day without admitting I was giving them an easier day.
But they still seemed hyper-focused and stressed.
During that time, I would move from station to station, running the paths with them and helping them in any area I saw they were lacking in or where they asked me for help.
I’d created a checklist of things they should have been able to do at this juncture in their training. They’d been working hard and doing a great job, and I figured they needed a little time so their bodies could exhale.
Around two in the afternoon, I told them to wash up and I’d treat them to lunch.
Ryan declined but everyone else cheered and darted off to get showered and changed. I laughed as I watched them go.
It was times like those when it hit me how young they were.
The responsibilities on their shoulders now seemed rather heavy.
“I won’t change my mind!” I called after their fleeing backs. “Take your time!”
“We’re not taking that chance!” Lennox called.
We all laughed as they disappeared through the main doors to the change rooms. I shook my head before heading off to wash my face and fix myself up.
When we arrived at the diner, they had to section off a part of the place to house all of us, but the owner didn’t seem to mind. When I saw Esther, her face looked as if she was in a fight—and had lost—badly.
She had black eyes, her hose had protective taping as if someone was trying to keep her nose on her face and her bottom lip had seen better days.
“Damn.” One of the cadets muttered. “What the hell happened to her?”
“Doesn’t she look like she was in a brawl with a prized fighter?” Andi chortled. “This is fantastic.”
Lennox Kane chuckled softly. “I didn’t think it had gotten that bad.”
“What happened?” I asked him.
“She got into a fight with your girl.” Andi leaned forward to giggle. “I wish I could have seen it. The rumour has it that Esther finally met her match.”
“You mean she’s reached the find out portion of this fuck around scenario.” Lennox sipped from his straw. “I don’t feel bad for her. Taji was only going to take her shit for so long.”
“Mm.” Andi nodded. “About time someone take her down a peg. I don’t get why Esther is still souppity.”
“Uppity? Ha!” A cadet laughed.
“My girl?” I arched a brow. “The last time I checked, I was single.”
“Taji.” Lennox replied. “Aren’t you listening? Keep up, man.”
I quirked a brow.
Taji is my girl?
“Taji isn’t my girl.” I tried.
Andi looked me up and down, her face calling me a liar while her eyes told me not to waste their time.
